Construction Progress

During the calendar year 1960, the principal construction activity was the completion of the channel deepening and enlargements. The Vista House (Overlook) was erected at Eisenhower lock and opened to the public in June 1960. Additional public parking facilities were provided at both lock areas. Construction of the maintenance base was completed and maintenance equipment was installed.

The dredging program was completed by the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, using Government-owned dredges and hired labor, principally in the South Channel of the St. Lawrence River, downstream from Snell lock. In addition, the areas leading to the upstream and downstream approach walls of both locks were widened and improved.

Correction of deficiencies in the lock emptying and filling valves was continued, using Corporation forces in the off-navigation season.

STATUS OF SEAWAY CONSTRUCTION

The Seaway construction began in January 1955. The project status as of December 31, 1960, was as follows:

ESTIMATED COST OF SEAWAY CONSTRUCTION

The cost estimate has been reduced by $500,000 from that of December 31, 1959, to $130,500,000, including interest during construction. The reduction is due chief.y to completion of the project features at costs less than the estimates, downward adjustment of the provision for contingencies, and settlement of all but one construction contract claim for less than the amounts claimed.

The act of July 17, 1957 (33 U.S.C. 989) provides that "The Corporation, after the effective date of this amendment, shall submit special reports to the Congress whenever there is proposed a new feature, design, or phase of the Seaway project, not heretofore included in estimates, or whenever there is proposed an abandonment of any feature, design, or phase hereto

fore included in estimates, involving an estimated value exceeding $1 million. and such special reports shall include justification for the modifications."

There have been no basic changes in any phase, feature, or design of the project, and none are anticipated, and no abandonment, involving an estimated value exceeding $1 million. Therefore, no special report was required to be submitted to the Congress in calendar year 1960.

CONSTRUCTION WORK REMAINING TO BE DONE AFTER
DECEMBER 31, 1960

The work remaining to be done consists of improvements and extensions of the sills at both locks, reinforcing lock filling and emptying valves and related machinery, sealing lock-wall monolith joints, construction of an access road to mooring cells, installing stone dike protection at the highlevel bridge piers, possible construction of training dike A or extension of training dike B to reduce the cross current existing in the South Channel, and construction of the roadway in the new south approach to the highlevel bridge extending north from the traffic circle of the relocated State Highway No. 37.